I am not hesitant to acknowledge I am an strong supporter of presidential candidate John Edwards. So, the recent controversy involving two people associated with his campaign is bothersome. The ruckus involves Melissa McEwan and Amanda Marcotte who have well read personal blogs and who were hired by the Edwards staff as bloggers in support of his campaign. After being associated with his campaign Catholic and Christian right members protested because Ms Marcotte wrote in December that the Catholic church is opposed to contraception in order to force women to bear more "tithing Catholics." They complained that a year before that she had used vulgar language in mocking the Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception. They also complained Ms. McEwan had used profanity in her blog while attacking religious conservatives and has used inflammatory language in doing so in past postings.

As a committed believer in First Amendment rights of free speech I recognize and support the right to attack the Catholic church as well as the conservative right wing even using vulgar language in a blog. In fact I have posted here more then one article critical of the Catholic church and religious conservatives especially with regard to political meddling. But, I am annoyed with people who resort to unnecessary vulgarity to make their point, who mock the religious beliefs of others and who are insulting to religious believers to make their point. That’s not the worst part of this event. What they have done is to trash the values of a large number of voters who will be voting in the next election. They were part of the Edwards campaign team and therefore caused him to be politically embarrassed. The fact they are no longer associated with his campaign is best for all concerned in my view.